Dual vehicle supported drilling rig



Dec. 24, 1957 E. J. PEARL 2,317,495

DUAL VEHICLE SUPPORTED DRILLING RIG Filed Sept. 28, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. d. Pear/ INVENTOR.

DYAEZZOTCZ g} *M ZJ A ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1957 E. J. PEARL 2,817,495

DUAL VEHICLE SUPPORTED DRILLING RIG Filed Sept. 28, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f. L/. Fe ar/ INVENTOR.

BY/ a ATTORNEYS Dec. 24, 1957 1-:. J. PEARL 2,817,495

DUAL VEHICLE SUPPORTED DRILLING RIG Filed Sept. 28, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 4/. Fe 0/ ATTORNEYS United States DUAL VEHICLE SUPPORTED DRILLING RIG Application September 28, 1953, Serial No. 382,769

9 Claims. (Cl. 255-51) This invention relates to a drilling rig which includes only two separate vehicle loads with the rig parts so distributed thereon that it is only necessary upon arrival at drilling location to interfit and vertically and horizontally align such vehicles in end to end assembled relation, elevate the derrick, and transfer the loaded vehicle weights to ground supports.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a dual vehicle support rig which can be transported to drilling location where the vehicles can be assembled and converted to serve as the rig supports and by the operation of elevating the derrick, the rig can be put into drilling condition without additional steps of import.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a drilling rig of this class in which the power drive mechanism on one vehicle may be readily aligned with the rotary drilling machine on the other vehicle with relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicles, and in which a readily operable means is provided to vertically align the vehicles in adjustably clamped position.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a drilling rig of this class in which the platiormedvehicles transported in two loads to locationcan readily be transferred from wheel to ground support to serve as the drilling rig platform during drilling;

It is also an object ofthis invention to provide a drilling rig of this class in which the power drive mechanism and rotary drilling machine may be originally rigidly fixed to'the separate vehicles supporting them;

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a drilling rig of this class in which the derrick is transported to location in prone position on its supporting vehicle and then elevated at location with the minimum of operational efiort.

Other and further objects will be apparent when the specification is considered in connection with the drawingsin which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the drilling rig in assembled position ready for drilling.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the power drive means supporting vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the derrick and rotary drilling machine supporting vehicle.

Fig. 5 isa sectional end view taken along line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation taken along line 77 of Fig. 6.

The drilling rig 1 included in this invention is a rig of the type employed in the rotary method of drilling wells, as oil wells, in which a derrick 2 rises above the rotary drilling machine 3 which rotates the drill stem in drilling. The traveling block 4 which moves up and down vertically in handling the drill pipe is suspended from the crownblock 5 rotatably supported at the top of the derrick. Suitable cable means 6 are operated from the drawworks or winching mechanism 7. A prime mover or engine means 8 supplies the automotive driving force which operates the drawworks 7 and also the rotary drilling machine 3 and additionally the pumping means, not shown, which handles the drilling fluid employed for circulation through the drill stem in drilling a well.

As the equipment required to drill a well is of considerable weight and bulk, difficulty has heretofore been experienced in arriving at means and method of trans porting the various rig parts to the field in a manner that they can readily be assembled at location so that drilling may commence within a short time and with the minimum loss of effort in placing the rig in condition for drilling. This invention overcomes former objections by transporting a pivotally mounted derrick and a fixedly posi tioned rotary drilling machine on one platformed wheeled vehicle which can be converted to be ground supported, and by transporting the power drive mechanism, such as the drawworks and engine means, on a separate plaiorrned wheeled vehicle which can be readily converted to be ground supported and by maneuvering and joining the two vehicles in a unique end to end alignment for combining them into one operating unit comprising all the essential equipment for drilling a well.

As shown in Fig. 4, a vehicle 10 as a trailer, consists of upper longitudinal side beams 11 and lower longitudinal side beams 12 connected by vertical columns 13, and as best seen in Fig. 5, by transverse upper cross members l4 and lower detachably connected cross members 15 which serve as braces during vehicle transit but whose removal during drilling operations affords working clearance beneath the derrick. Additionally, diagonal braces 16 may be employed between the vertical side posts 13 and the transverse bars 14.

The rotary drilling machine 3, including a rotary table, is mounted at a fixed position fore and aft of the vehicle id and at the desired elevation by the upper framing members 11 and 14 as shown in Fig. 4. On arrival at well location the vehicle 10 is spotted to place the center or rotary axis of this rotary drilling machine 3 above the point on the ground at which drilling will commence.

The derrick 2 has a pair of lower ears 17 trunnioned at 18 in up-rights 19. During transportation the derrick 2.1 is supported substantially horizontally or in a prone position by its trunnions 18 at one end and is supported at its other end on the front frame brackets 20 carried by a pair of side risers or posts 22. For purposes of location, a plate 21 on the derrick fits into the brackets 20 when the derrick 2 is in prone position. The derrick 2 may be con structed in one part as shown or it may be of the well known conventional telescoping type in which one part telescopes into the 0th. part.

In this form of invention shown it is desired to provide a derrick of fairly small transverse cross section and to slant the derrick upwardly, when erected, so that the traveling block 4 supported from the derrick crown block 5 is suspended outside of the derrick and above the rotary drilling machine, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.

An A-frame 25 is pivotally supported on the upright 24 above the column 13 at the drilling end of the vehicle it), such A-frame being pivotally trunnioned at 28 to the top of the up-right 24, for swinging adjustment between a horizontal trailer travel position above the folded mast or derrick 2 and the erectposition illustrated in the draw ings. For holding the A-frame erect, its lower end, which is vertically spaced from the trunnion 28, is fixedly secured by detachable pins 26 received within attachment ears 27 on the side uprights 24. A diagonal brace member or guy means 29 cross-connects the up-rights 19 and 24. The derrick base is tapered at 30 at an angle to normalto the longitudinal axis of the rig at which the longitudinal axis of the derrick 2 must extend to the vertical to position the traveling block 4 to hang vertically over the center of the rotary drilling machine 3. A groove 31 in the derrick base 30 fits over or seats on the side pin 32 on the up-right 24 when the derrick 2 is elevated.

Any conventional type of lifting and guy means may be employed for the handling of the derrick 2 during elevation and preferably the A-frame 25 is employed with cable 33 extending from the derrick and over the A-frame pulley 34 to the drum head on the drawworks 7. Operation of the cable 33 will raise and lower the derrick. In addition to the cross-brace 29, suitable guys 36, 36' are supplied to guy the A-frame.

The vehicle is constructed as shown in Fig. 4 to be supported and leveled by jacks 37 which are manipulated to bear downwardly against the ground 38 and upwardly against the lower side beams 12 to lift the ground wheels 38' which are axled at 39 in the beam 12, above the ground level and transfer the support of the vehicle 10 to the jacks 37.

A forward tongue or platform member 40 which serves in drilling as an approach platform is supported by the jack 37 pivotally mounted below the platform 40 and guyed by the diagonal member 41 pivotally connecting the jack 37 to the platform 40. A king pin fifth wheel connection 42 is secured below and at the forward end of platform 40 for detachable connection with a truck tractor during transportation of the mobile equipment.

The second vehicle 50 has mounted at the rear thereof, the drawworks 7 and engine 8 which together comprise the power drive mechanism of the drilling rig. For protection a roof 51 extends over the engine 8, and such roof can also extend over a tool room 52. The pumping means which handles the fluid which is circulated down the drill stern of the drilling rig during the drilling operation is not shown, but this part of the drilling rig load can also be adapted to mount such pumping means in certain installations.

As shown in Fig. 2, the jacks 53 bear downwardly upon the ground 38 and upwardly against the base of platform 54 of the second vehicle 50 and upon manipulation these jacks can transfer the load from the wheels 38' to ground support. A king pin connection 42 is provided at the tool room end of the vehicle 50 for connection to a prime mover.

As shown in Fig. 3, an arm 56 may be pivotally connected at one end to a jack 53 and at the other end to the bottom of a platform or base 54 and during transit such arm is disconnected from the position shown so that the jack 53 may be suspended beneath the platform in substantially horizontal position.

As the roadways and lanes down which a drilling rig may be transported are of limited width, platform sections 56 may be hinged at their inner edges by pintles 57 to the platform or base 54 and during transit are supported in folded vertical position. After arriving at drilling location, these platform sections may be swung downwardly and supported outwardly of the vehicle 50 in the horizontal plane of, and as extensions of, the floor of the working platform.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, one of the vehicles, as the vehicle 50, has at its rear end, a narrowed portion 58 which is of a width to fit or nest within the space between vertical columns 13 at the rear end of the other load or vehicle when the pair of vehicles are aligned in end to end relation. To guide the projecting tongue into pocketed position, suitable guide means as angles 59 may be rigidly installed, as by welding on the endmost columns 13, with their inclined guide or bearing surfaces set in vertical planes angularly related to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle. When the truck tractor has positioned one vehicle, as the rotary table supporting vehicle 10, at drilling position, the other truck tractor may back the second or drawworks vehicle 50 into position to be assembled, and the angle guides 59 are contacted on one side or another by mating guide surfaces of corresponding angle brackets 60 fixed on the abutting end of the drawworks carrying vehicle 50. This arrangement assures alignment and proper longitudinal end to end relation. T o insure against the two loads being extended apart after assembling, the turnbuckles 61 are installed on both sides of the abutting back to back vehicle end portions, with one turnbuckle end pivotally connected to the horizontal beam 12 of the vehicle 10, and the other end pivotally connected to the base 54 of the load 50. Then as these turnbuckles are taken up, definite co-axial alignment in end to end relation is assured between the two vehicles and they are fixedly tied or interconnected to function as a single or unitary equipment.

During the drilling operation the wheels and their associated running gear are relieved from the load, which is transferred to the ground through the adjustable jacks 37 and 55. Relative jack adjustment insures proper alignment of the power transmitting mechanism, such as the conventional chain and sprocket power connection to drive the rotary machine 3 on the vehicle 10 from the power drive mechanism on the vehicle 50. Jack adjustment also enables the platform base 62 of the derrick vehicle 10 and the platform base 54 of the drawworks 50 to be disposed in horizontal planes for level platform working area without regard to uneven terrain. Adjustable locating jacks 63 bear at opposite ends on the internested tongue 58 and an overhead cross-beam or frame element 14 to hold the vehicle end portions against displacement vertically.

Upon completion of a drilling operation, the mast is lowered, the vehicle ends uncoupled, and the ground engaging jacks removed all in quick order and the equip ment is ready without further ado for transportation to a new drilling location. There the two loads are again brought back to back and the equipment is ready for operation and the entire procedure can be accomplished in little more than actual travel time.

A rig of this general construction is not limited to use with a mast or derrick having a traveling block suspended outside the confines of the mast. For a derrick having the traveling block working within the derrick, the derrick would be elevated to extend when erected with its longitudinal axis vertical and the drilling machine 3 would be fixed at the derrick end of the vehicle 50 and centered in vertical axial alignment with the vertical axis of the derrick.

The invention is not limited to the type of guide means and connections shown but other structures may be used which will serve to guide one of the vehicles into alignment and connection with the other in end to end relationship. Also the vertical alignment and supporting means is not limited to the jack means shown, but other structures are considered as well which will serve to take the vehicle loads off of their wheels and transfer them to ground supports.

What is claimed is:

1. A drilling rig transportable in two separate loads and comprising a first wheeled platform vehicle having a power drive mechanism fixedly mounted thereon, a second wheeled platform vehicle having the drilling machine mounted in drilling position thereon, and a derrick pivotally mounted thereon for movement between a prone position in transit and an erect drilling position, said vehicles having adjacent ends constructed for interfitment in tongue and groove relation with one end having means thereon extending over the other end, guide and connection means on said adjacent ends to connect them in longitudinally aligned assembly with relation to the longitudinal axes of said vehicles and in co-operative relation,

for a drilling operation, vertical alignment mechanism to engage the adjacent vehicle ends by bearing upwardly against said over extending means and downwardly against said other end to locate said ends in vertically aligned relation, and adjustable ground engaging supports to transfer said vehicles from wheel support and to locate both vehicles at platform co-operative horizontal working levels.

2. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 1 in which said over extending means is on the groove providing end, and in which said vertical alignment mechanism comprises jack means based upon said tongue end and movable to bear upwardly against said over extending means on said grooved end.

3. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 1 in which said guide means includes guide surfaces extending diagonally inwardly from the opposite sides of at least one of said ends and in planes at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said vehicles to guide the tongued end into the groove providing end.

4. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 1 in which the connection means for said connected ends includes on each side of said rig, a turnbuckle connecting said adjacent ends to draw them together in assembled relationship.

5. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 1 in which said vertical alignment mechanism comprises jack means.

6. A drilling rig transportable in two separate loads and comprising a power drive mechanism transporting vehicle having a working platform and a drilling machine transporting vehicle having a working platform and including a derrick pivotally mounted on the vehicle for movement between a prone position in transit and an erect drilling position, guide connection means on adjacent ends of said vehicles to connect them in predetermined end to end and longitudinally aligned position in which the drilling machine on one vehicle and the power drive mechanism on the other vehicle are in cooperative relation, said vehicles having their said adjacent ends constructed for interfitment in assembly in tongue and groove relation with one end having means thereon extending over the other end, vertical alignment mechanism to vertically align said loads by bearing upwardly against said over extending means and downwardly against said other end, and ground engaging supports to stationarily support said vehicles from the ground with their working platforms in parallel level planes.

7. In a portable drilling rig transportable in two separate loads, a pair of vehicles one to carry each load and arranged for independent transit, a foldable derrick and a drilling table on one vehicle, a power drive mechanism on the other vehicle for furnishing operating power to the derrick and the drilling table, and coupling means joining said vehicles in rigid end to end adjoined succession with the derrick and drilling table on the one vehicle in operative relation to the power drive mechanism on the other vehicle, said vehicles having their adjoined ends constructed for interfitment in assembly in tongue and groove relation with one end having means thereon extending over the other end, vertical alignment mechanism to vertically align said loads by adjustably bearing upwardly against said over extending means and downwardly against said other end therebelow, said vehicle coupling means including mating camming elements 'carried by the two vehicles for interfitting engagement in loeating the vehicles in rig operating longitudinal alignment.

8. A portable rig including a pair of separable and independently transportable road vehicle assemblies having wheel suspension running gear for use during transit, a power drive unit and a drawworks for transmitting drive from the unit and both mounted in co-operative relation on one of the wheeled vehicle assemblies, a foldable mast hingedly mounted on and formed as a part of the other wheel suspended vehicle assembly and arranged to be raised and lowered between a transit position extending longitudinally of said wheel suspended vehicle assembly and an erect, drawworks co-operative position at one end of said assembly with the two vehicle assemblies adjoined in end to end longitudinal succession, said vehicle assemblies having their adjoined ends constructed for interfitment in assembly in tongue and groove relation with one end having means thereon extending over the other end, vertical alignment mechanism to engage the adjoined vehicle ends by hearing upwardly against said over extending end and downwardly against said other end therebelow, and vehicle assemblies coupling means having complemental coupling parts at the adjoining ends of the respective assemblies for coupling connection to maintain said vehicle assemblies in longitudinal alignment during work performing operation of the rig.

9. A portable rig as claimed in claim 8 wherein the complemental coupling parts comprise internesting carnming guides fixed on the vehicles respectively at their adjoining ends for sliding surface bearing on one another in eifecting longitudinal alignment of the adjoining vehicles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,113,270 Hall et al. Apr. 5, 1938 2,176,731 Claire Oct. 17, 1939 2,215,928 Hornbrook Sept. 29, 1940 2,429,010 Wooslayer et al. Oct. 14, 1947 2,573,528 Woolslayer et al. Oct. 30, 1951 2,576,872 Young Nov. 27, 1951 2,613,059 Maier et al. Oct. 7, 1952 2,615,679 Menhall (let. 28, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 146,759 Australia June 10, 1952 489,237 Canada Dec. 30, 1952 

